Schmarotzer

“Schmarotzer” is an interactive sound-installation which is based on the theories of Heinz von Foerster. Three modified dictating machines share one tape-loop. Together they are a one closed system. Two of the dictating machines record the sound of the environment and one dictating machine plays the sound the others have recorded. The two record again what the other one has played. The sounds overlap for so long that in the end only a big noise can be heard. The result is a sound-collage of old and new recorded sounds. If a visitor approaches the installation, an ultrasonic sensor notices the movement and a magnet moves to the tape-loop. This magnet then deletes all the acoustic information that has been on the tape-loop so that there is nothing more to hear on the tape.